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Park didn’t answer His whole face was throbbing; the nurse wasn’t allowed to give out Tylenol

‘Did you really kick him in the face?’ his dad asked

Park nodded

‘That had to be a juroaned

‘No way’

Park tried to give his dad a dirty look, but any look at all felt like getting hit in the face with rocks

‘He’s lucky you wear those little tennis shoes,’ his dad said, ‘even in the middle of winter

… Seriously, a juoing to hit the goddarandht When Park walked in, his mom was practically incoherent

She took hi her head ‘Fighting!’ she said, stabbing her index finger into his chest ‘Fighting like white-trash dumb monkey …’

He’d seen her this mad at Josh before – he’d seen her throw a basket of silk flowers at Josh’s head – but never at hi! Can’t trust you with own face’

His dad tried to put his hand on her shoulder, but she shook hirand his face

‘I’randpa said

His dad went to the cupboard to get Park sorandh my mouth,’ Park said

‘Your dad broke his nose so h one nostril That’s why he snores like a freight train’

‘No ’

‘Mindy …’ his dad said ‘It was one fight He was sticking up for sorowled His voice irlfriend’

He hoped so, anyway

‘Is it the redhead?’ his grandma asked

‘Eleanor,’ he said ‘Her nairlfriend, no,’ hisher ar the doorbell, Magnuo to school with Park I have his books and stuff’

Park’s dad looked her up and down, but not like he was checking her out, thank God More like he was sizing her up (Which was also uncomfortable) ‘Are you Helen?’ he asked

‘Eleanor,’ she said

‘Eleanor, right … Just a second’

Before she could tell him that she just wanted to drop off Park’s stuff, he walked away He left the door open, and Eleanor could hear hi to someone, probably in the kitchen, probably Park’s mom ‘Coht before he ca Red, I expected her to be a lot bigger’

‘I was just dropping this off,’ Eleanor said when he pushed the screen open

‘Thanks,’ he said, ‘come on in’

Eleanor held up Park’s backpack

‘Seriously, kid,’ he said ‘Coive it to him yourself I’ht

But she followed hi room, down the short hall to Park’s rooar Ray Someone’s here to see you

You want to powder your nose first?’

He opened the door for Eleanor, then walked away

Park’s room was small, but it was packed with stuff Stacks of books and tapes and coa over his bed like one of those things you put over a crib

Park was on his bed, trying to prop hiasped when she saw his face It looked so much worse than it had earlier

One of his eyes ollen shut, and his nose was thick and purple It made her want to cry And to kiss hi made her want to kiss him Park could tell her that he had lice and leprosy and parasitic wor in his mouth, and she would still put on fresh ChapStik God)

‘Are you okay?’ she asked Park nodded and sat up against his headboard She set down his bag and his coat, and walked over to the bed He made roo backwards, tipping Park on his side He groaned and grabbed her arm

‘Sorry,’ she said, ‘oha waterbed’ Just saying that word hed a little, too It sounded like snorting

‘My ood for your back’

He was keeping both of his eyes ood one, and he didn’t open his mouth when he talked

‘Does it hurt to talk?’ she asked

He nodded He hadn’t let go of her ar, he was holding it tighter

She reached up with her other hand and lightly touched his hair Brushed it out of his face It felt smooth and sharp at the saertips

‘I’m sorry,’ he said

She didn’t ask why

There were tears pooling in the slit of his left eye and slipping down his right cheek She started to wipe them away, but she didn’t want to touch him

‘It’s okay …’ she said She let her hand settle in her own lap

She wondered if he was still trying to break up with her If he was, she wouldn’t hold it against hi?’ he asked

‘Every-what?’ she whispered, as if listening ht hurt hih he probably couldn’t see her ‘Not Possible,’ she said

He ran his palm down her arm and squeezed her hand She could see the muscles flex in his forearht have ruined your face,’ she said

He groaned

‘Which is okay,’ she said, ‘because you ay too cute foron her hand

She was glad he couldn’t see her face ‘I think you’re …’

Beautiful Breathtaking Like the person in a Greek od

So made Park even more beautiful His face looked ready to break out of its chrysalis